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Envelope of white powder sent to New York paper that outed gun owners as angry backlash continues

Submitted by IWB, on January 3rd, 2013

The Journal News published names and addresses of gun permit owners on December 23

The controversial move has sparked a huge backlash prompting the paper to hire armed guards for security

The white powder was tested and is believed to be harmless

Controversy surrounding a New York newspaper’s decision to publish the names and addresses of local gun permit holders continued at fever pitch yesterday as a threatening envelope of white powder arrived in the newsroom’s mail.

Sparking initial fears of an anthrax attack, the surprise package came after The Journal News had reportedly hired a team of armed guards to patrol the paper’s headquarters in West Nyack.

One employee who handled the envelope was checked for contamination before the intimidating missive was deemed to be harmless.

While staffers continued their work yesterday evening, the threat was not taken lightly at the paper.

News Journal chief, Janet Hasson, told The New York Times that ‘the safety of my staff is my top priority.’

The paper caused a stir on December 23 when it listed thousands of pistol permit holders in suburban Westchester and Rockland counties just north of New York City in an interactive map on its website.